“
This was originally two houses: 3707 and 3709
Smedley St.
In the city directories,
they were sometimes listed as rear of 316 N. 37th St.
312-314:
“Circa 1870, two two-story,
four-register brick houses was originally a double house. Pents over entrances
added later, then one entrance to each altered to window. Bracketed wood
cornice”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1867, Jun. 24: Title for 312-318 N. 37th St. transferred to Elizabeth J.
Askin by George E. Askin
On the same day, he transferred title to 3708-3712 Baring
St. to her.
George E. Askin and Elizabeth J. Askin were siblings of
J. Henry Askin. They were early investors in and
residents of Powelton having moved to 3509 Baring St.
in late 1858/59. The family sold much of their Powelton properties in 1867-‘68 and purchased 297 acres in Delaware Co. The development
they began building there became Wayne.
312-314 are shown on the
1872 G. M. Hopkins Atlas.
Previous Residents
of 3707 Smedley
1880: 3707 Smedley
William H. Sturgis 23 Brakeman for Penna. R.R.
Annie H. Sturgis 19
Amanda H. Sturgis 48 Mother; dressmaker
The 1870 census lists
Amanda and William Sturgis with another son, George. They were probably living
along 37th St. south of Baring. However, they were not enumerated in
the second enumeration which is the first to give street addresses. Annie was
born Anna E. J. Palmer. In 1900 and 1920, they lived at 3844 Aspen St. Ann
Sturgis died between 1900 and 1920. Amanda married Horace G. Essick, a bank
clerk, sometime between 1990 and 1920.
1881 &
1882 Directories: William H. Sturgis, brakeman, rear of 316
The 1889
directory lists him at 8844 Aspen St.
1890 Directory:
William Hookway, dyer
1891 Directory:
William H. Hookway, dyer
James Hookway
1895 Directory:
Charles Buchler, police
Previous Residents
of 3709 Smedley
1880: 3709 Smedley
John B. Eckert 37 Painter; mother born in England
Eliza J. Eckert 35
Emily P. Eckert 10
John B. Eckert 9
Annie H. Eckert 5
Lida M. Eckert 3
The 1880 directory from the Fall 1879 lists John B. Eckert
at 3737
Lancaster Ave. The 1890 directory lists Annie Eckert living at 614 N. 35th
St. [???] 1887 directory lists her as widow of Benjamin J.
1881 Directory:
William H. Stuugis, brakeman, h rear of 316 N. 37th St.
Amanda F. Sturgis, dressmaker, h rear of 316
N. 37th St.
The
1887 directory lists William and Amanda at 3844 Aspen. Amanda M. Sturgeis was
the widow of John Sturgis.
John B. Eckert, painter, h rear of 316 N. 37th
St.
The 1887
directory lists John B. Eckert, painter at 79 N. 38th St. and John B. Eckert,
printer at 1707 N. 11th St.
1884 Directory: John B. Eckert, painter
1895 Directory: Amos Low, carpets
Joseph Tyrrell, salesman
1900: 3709 Smedley
Harvey Gable 48 Broom maker; renting
Clara Gable 58 Married 18 years, 3 children
Edgar Titus 30 Stepson; grocery clerk
Lott Gable 16 Son; grocery clerk
William Gable 8
Previous Residents
of 312 N. 37th
1906 Directory:
Frank V. Warren, treasurer at 712 Stephen Girard Building
He
previously lived at 315 N. 35th St. In
1905, he was issued a marriage license with Mary Hicks Baker of 302 N. 35th St.
1908 Directory: Frank
V. Warren, engineer
1910:
Francis V. Warren 34 Civil engineer
for contracting co.; renting
Mary Baker Warren 32 Married 4 years,
1 child
Richard Baker
Warren 3
Maggie Butler 18 Servant;
black; born in N.Y., father born in Va., mother in N.J.
They were married in 1905 when she
was living with her family at 302 N. 35th St.
He was living across the street from them as a boarder at 315
N. 35th St.
1916 Directory: Dudley W. Burchard, manager
1920:
Joseph H. Walker 70 Clerk
at a bronze foundry; renting
Sarah J. Walker 52 Born
in Md.
Margaret H Walker 19 Clerk
at a lawyer’s office
In 1900, they lived near 57th
& Arch St. He was an insurance agent.
1921, Feb. 14: Death of Margaret Harrison
Walker, 19 years old, of lobar pneumonia, daughter of Joseph H. and Sara J. (Griffith)
Walker of 312 N. 37th St. Internment at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Joseph Harrison Walker died Feb.
116, 1924. He was living on Woodland Ave.
1930:
William E.
Thompson Jr. 26 Dentist; married at age 25; renting for
$55 per month
Mary E. Thompson 26 Married at age 25
William’s parents, William, Sr. and Louise Thompson, lived next door at 310 N. 37th St. He moved there about 1934. His father
was also a dentist. In 1920, he lived with them at 4027 Green St.
1940:
George Davis 39 Teacher
at an academy, earned $2,800 in 1939; born in Maine; 5 years of college;
renting for $50 per month
Alice David 37 Four years of high school
William Davis 11
1968 Directory: Benson J.
Corry J. P.